Tractor Supply and Blue Rhino
Until recently, the least expensive option for getting my 20# propane tanks filled was at my local tractor supply. It was like $10 to fill verses $20 to exchange at Blue Rhino, where I had inherited a...
Forum Discussion
copplecrown wrote:
Thanks for the responses.
Both Tractor Supply stores were in the same state, and not far from one another. I was pointing out the inconsistency within a small region. I usually buy new tanks, but had inherited the Blue Rhino tanks. Had TS's tech actually wanted to talk face to face, I would have been inclined to buy a new tank, but he chose a clerk with no knowledge whatsoever to inform me that particular store would not fill the tanks. Decided I was done with them at that point.
My understanding was also that the sticker was good for 5 years, as well as the new certification stamp on the side, but apparently not all stores are aware of the sticker, which is admittedly faulty.
I believe our town recycling center charges for outdated tanks. I chose to exchange for newly inspected tanks, and have already found a good local alternative for getting them filled at a nearby hardware store. The newly inspected tanks look fine, but when they are up, I'll be 'donating' them back to BR and buy new ones.
Trying to point out that TS stores DO NOT HAVE a "dedicated" propane "Tech".
They simply have one of the other coworkers/stock person that is FREE/not busy at the time of sale to do other things like stock the store or deal with things like tank exchanges/fills..
The clerk at the front of the store IS supposed to be the person that the customer deals with.
The coworker goes out and checks your tank then will come back in a tell the clerk to charge you are not..
They are just simply following the rules that the STORE MANAGER HAS GIVEN THEM TO FOLLOW.
If you WANT better service then go to a real propane dealer..
If you don't want better service then keep going to the TS stores, you DO get the level of service that the TS store is paying for which is pretty bad now days.
My suggestion is to ditch the crappy exchange cylinders and go buy NEW as in BRAND NEW cylinders. Costs about $25 per new cylinder for new 20 lb ones. These WILL be good for 11-12yrs depending on the date and you will not have to dink around with the exchange stuff expiring all the time.
You CAN buy new 20 lb cylinders at TS or Home Depot/Lowes, take them to a REAL propane dealer, tell them they ARE NEW and will need "purged". A real dealer will know exactly what to do.
Once done, you are good to go for many years before needing the tanks to be recertified and then you can decide if you want to buy new or pay the propane dealer to get recertified..
Why keep messing around?
You are not saving money if you are running around from TS store to TS store.
